Acoustic Test Fixture (ATF) System and Associated Services

THIS IS A NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD A SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT AND IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS. This notice announces the intent by the Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity (DHACA) in support of the United States Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory (USAARL) Warfighter Performance Group located at Ft. Novosel, AL to award a sole source contract in accordance with (IAW) FAR 6.302-1(c). GRAS Sound & Vibration products in the US are strategically sourced through parent organization, Axiometrix Solutions, Inc., and is the only known manufacturer and seller of a GRAS 45CB-S4 Acoustic Test Fixture (ATF) that meets all the requirements specified in ANSI standard S12.42. It satisfies the USAARL Minimum Essential Characteristics (MECs) and meets the regulatory reporting deadlines and global requirements. This will support the USAARL requirement for a high quality ultra-low noise performance microphone with precise design specifications that are critical for achieving acoustic measurement accuracy for both low and high noise. Axiometrix Solutions will support the USAARL Warfighter Performance Group mission to conduct laboratory and field evaluations of hearing protection devices and communication systems. Market Research conducted in accordance with FAR Part 10 did not support a minimum of two or more capable small businesses that could satisfy this requirement; therefore, setting aside this requirement as a small business set aside is not appropriate. Currently, the GRAS 45CB-S4 ATF is the only known product able to satisfy the USAARL MECs in addition to meeting the specifications of ANSI/ASA S12.42. Procurement of any other fixture could result in inaccurate and unreliable acoustic measurements, leading to flawed analyses, and incorrect conclusions which would be detrimental to the mission requirements of USAARL. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) for this requirement is 541380 Testing Laboratories and Services, and the PSC Code is AJ12 ’ General Science & Technology R&D SVCS; General Science & Technology; R&D Facilities & Maj Equip. This announcement fulfills the synopsis requirements under FAR 5.102(a)(3) and 5.203(a). DHACA intends to publish a solicitation no sooner than 15 days after publishing this synopsis. This Special Notice of Intent is not a request for competitive quotes. If no written responses are received by the date listed below, which reflects at least fifteen (15) days after the publication of this notice, the solicitation will be issued as a brand name only requirement for the procurement of GRAS 45CB-S4 ATF. All responses to this notice shall be emailed to Ms. Tammy McRae at tammy.n.mcrae.civ@health.mil and Mr. Jeremy L. McMurry at Jeremy.l.mcmurry.civ@health.mil. Interested concerns must identify their capability in writing to the above e-mail address no later than 12:00 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST) on 17 April 2026.